It is refreshing to read an article regarding the separate school system that highlights the innate and distinctive qualities of our catholic schools. Catholic schools are special and worth preserving. Our faith-based system feeds the mind body and spirit of our children and even though it's impact cannot be measured, our society is all the better for it!
Thank you Canadian Family for taking the time to reveal the truths that we find difficult to articulate.
Theresa - 12 years ago
Catholic education provides a richness to the foundation of our social fabric. Parents and students clearly recognize through their enrollment decisions the inherent benefits in an experience that nurtures the mind and the spirit. We should be celebrating that we have an educational system in Ontario that is the envy of the world.
Beth - 12 years ago
Either one publicly funded school system; or equal funding to separate schools of all faiths (which then must meet certain criteria regarding teacher qualifications, basic academic expectations, etc.)
Linda L. - 12 years ago
There should only be one school system which should include teaching values as well as the 3R's. At the time the present dual system was set up, there were two main religious groups in Canada. We now have many more and should either recognize other beliefs or merge all schools into the same publicly-funded system with the option open for others to establish their own schools provided they met provincial standards and were inspected regularly. No child should be attending a school that is not provincially-regulated or that has teachers that are not licensed by the province.
I attended Catholic school and public schools as did my children. Both systems taught, by and large the same thing with the exception of Religion class which could be offered as an optional class or after school and taught by ministers and/or priests. The values, ethics and social justice elements could be incorporated in a secular school since they are part of being human, not just part of religious beliefs.
I would also like to see uniforms become standard in all schools up to Grade 12. They are a marvelous equalizer of socio-economic differences and take away a lot of distractions.
Robyn - 12 years ago
In a country where all other discrimination is illegal and immoral, I just can't understand this separate school system for Catholics. If every religion can't be educated in the religion of their choice and be funded and monitored by the government, then no religion should be. Fund only the public system. Make it stronger and better.
It is refreshing to read an article regarding the separate school system that highlights the innate and distinctive qualities of our catholic schools. Catholic schools are special and worth preserving. Our faith-based system feeds the mind body and spirit of our children and even though it's impact cannot be measured, our society is all the better for it!
Thank you Canadian Family for taking the time to reveal the truths that we find difficult to articulate.
Catholic education provides a richness to the foundation of our social fabric. Parents and students clearly recognize through their enrollment decisions the inherent benefits in an experience that nurtures the mind and the spirit. We should be celebrating that we have an educational system in Ontario that is the envy of the world.
Either one publicly funded school system; or equal funding to separate schools of all faiths (which then must meet certain criteria regarding teacher qualifications, basic academic expectations, etc.)
There should only be one school system which should include teaching values as well as the 3R's. At the time the present dual system was set up, there were two main religious groups in Canada. We now have many more and should either recognize other beliefs or merge all schools into the same publicly-funded system with the option open for others to establish their own schools provided they met provincial standards and were inspected regularly. No child should be attending a school that is not provincially-regulated or that has teachers that are not licensed by the province.
I attended Catholic school and public schools as did my children. Both systems taught, by and large the same thing with the exception of Religion class which could be offered as an optional class or after school and taught by ministers and/or priests. The values, ethics and social justice elements could be incorporated in a secular school since they are part of being human, not just part of religious beliefs.
I would also like to see uniforms become standard in all schools up to Grade 12. They are a marvelous equalizer of socio-economic differences and take away a lot of distractions.
In a country where all other discrimination is illegal and immoral, I just can't understand this separate school system for Catholics. If every religion can't be educated in the religion of their choice and be funded and monitored by the government, then no religion should be. Fund only the public system. Make it stronger and better.